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Ruth Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 04 2006 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Nov 11 2010 at 5:50am | IP Logged
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For the past 2 nights my 16 year old daughter has been waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air. I took her in last night and her oxygen levels are way down from when she had them checked last April. Our holistic pediatrician has put her on homeopathy and an inhaler, but my question is,
Is there anything we can do at home to help her with the asthma? Do we get rid of our carpet and put down laminate? We're pretty much broke just like everyone around us, but she is really struggling right now.
Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks so much!
__________________ Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
Loreto Rosaries
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stacykay Forum All-Star
Joined: April 08 2006 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Nov 11 2010 at 7:11am | IP Logged
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My 20yods has had asthma since, forever.
Aside from meds (he usually takes pro-air and flo-vent,) I would say, keep dust down to minimum.
If you can't get rid of carpet (we were lucky with wood under the carpet when we moved in,) vacuum daily (when she isn't in room,) dust well, keep bedding washed at least weekly, wash curtains (if you have those in her room) regularly, and keep her windows closed if it's during air-borne pollen time or other allergens in air, and use a/c, if you have it, during times of high humidity. Those have all been triggers for ds,in addition to his sports.
Oh, one other thing, if she is outside much during the day, have her shower and wash her hair before bed. If there is any allergy trigger for her, that can help, too.
I will pray for your daughter. I know how frightening it is, watching a child struggling to breath.
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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Aagot Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 06 2010
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Posted: Nov 11 2010 at 8:04am | IP Logged
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Ruth,
not an expert on this but if this is only happening at night, I would check for mold. I read somewhere (not helpful I know!) that mold spores "explode" at night.
You can get at home test kits at a hardware store.
HTH,
Aagot
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amarytbc Forum Pro
Joined: July 06 2007
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Posted: Nov 11 2010 at 9:30am | IP Logged
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I'm so sorry, this is frightening to go through. We've had 3 children with asthma and did figure out ways to control it, but it was different with each child. For our dd with night asthma attacks we encased her mattress in the special allergy cover. I think it was under $20. I throw her pillow in the dryer for 20 minutes once a week, and her blankets every other week. If she's waking in the middle of the night, it is something in her room, on her bed, or something she's doing right before she goes to bed (lotion?) that is causing the problem. We did pull up the carpet in the room and got rid of dust collectors. It made a big difference.
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Nov 11 2010 at 11:00am | IP Logged
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increasing vitamin C helps the body deal with allergens so that the reactions are reduced, even eliminated.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Nov 11 2010 at 2:26pm | IP Logged
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Ruth, perhaps you could move her to another room at night to see if it's the room. Is she sleeping with windows open? Or do you have central air/heat?
And keep the dust to a minimum. There should be no curtains, no cloth blinds, no stuffed animals, no knick-knacks, no books. Basically her bedding which needs to be washed regularly, including the covers and blankets, and the pillows and mattress needs to be encased. The clothes she wore during the day (with pollens and such) need to be removed out of her bedroom.
It's a pain, but not being able to breathe is scary. Is this the first problem, or does she have a history of asthma? And of all my friends that deal with this issue, this is one area where medicines are the help, not a hindrance. The rate of death by untreated asthma is very, very high.
Praying for you and your daughter!
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Ruth Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 04 2006 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Nov 12 2010 at 7:31am | IP Logged
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Thank you so much for all your advice. I knew I would get the help I needed here. There is so much I didn't know, so I really appreciate your help.
Jenn, We usually keep the windows open and we haven't had the heat/air running since August. I had her tested back in April, but this week was the first episode of gasping for air. She did just start working out at the gym and the doctor said that's probably why it made things worse. I am going to pick up an inhaler form the doctor today.
Thanks for your prayers. You all remain in mine.
__________________ Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
Loreto Rosaries
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Sharyn Forum Pro
Joined: June 20 2009 Location: Australia
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Posted: Nov 12 2010 at 8:38am | IP Logged
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stacykay wrote:
and keep her windows closed if it's during air-borne pollen time or other allergens in air |
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I saw the Dr. on Tuesday for my son as his asthma has been flaring again. They did blood tests for allergies and he has a grass allergy, and here's me everyday opening his window to let in the lovely fresh air
I wonder if one of those air cleaners would be a good idea too. Anyone have a brand recommendation?
__________________ Mum to dd (00), ds (03), dd (04), ds (06), one in God's care (08), dd (09), ds (11), one in God's care (13), and ds (13)
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Sharyn Forum Pro
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Posted: Nov 12 2010 at 8:41am | IP Logged
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Aagot wrote:
I would check for mold. I read somewhere (not helpful I know!) that mold spores "explode" at night. |
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Aaaah! This was the other thing they said he has an allergy too. I can't imagine it is damp enough here though for mould.
__________________ Mum to dd (00), ds (03), dd (04), ds (06), one in God's care (08), dd (09), ds (11), one in God's care (13), and ds (13)
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Sharyn Forum Pro
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Posted: Nov 12 2010 at 8:42am | IP Logged
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Ruth wrote:
Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks so much! |
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Will do Ruth.
__________________ Mum to dd (00), ds (03), dd (04), ds (06), one in God's care (08), dd (09), ds (11), one in God's care (13), and ds (13)
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